Project Files

The Build

The main change from the original project I made was to use a pig rather than a dragon. After all, it’s a ‘piggy’ bank, right?

I downloaded a piggy design I thought would work well and used Illustrator to break the shapes down.

Piggy design image.

Design in LightBurn and ready to cut and engrave.

3mm parts cut.

With all the parts cut, I was ready to start assembly. Notice that I decided to cut an extra set of body and wing parts out of 1.2mm Eucalypt ply. I will use these pieces as the exterior faces to cover up the various holes required for assembly.

Ready for assembly.

I first inserted the skewers into the body and glued them in place. They will make aligning all the layers very easy.

Skewers inserted to assist with aligning the layers.

Layers being glued in place.

When the final layer was glued in place, I cut and sanded the two skewers flush.

Main body layers completed.

The pivoting head piece is also assembled in a similar way, using the skewers as guides. Make sure you do not get any glue on these skewers as you will need to remove them to assemble this piece.

Head piece assembled and drying.

Once the head piece glue had dried, it was time to start putting it all together. When the head piece is inserted, this skewer can then be cut and sanded flush.

Head piece installed in place.

Next, I glued the other body piece in place and sanded lightly both sides.

The thinner body layers were glued in place. With their engraved edges, these pieces dramatically improved the overall appearance.

Adding outer body layers.

While the body layers were drying, I did the same to the wings.

Wing layers ready for glueing.

Wing layers glued.

Wings attached to body.

This piggy bank has a clever locking mechanism. A skewer inserted into the eye holds it closed. When it’s time to take out your savings, this piece can be pushed out, allowing the head to pivot open.

To help conceal this locking pin, I used a marker to make the outside edged black.

Locking pin.

Pin partially inserted.

Pin fully inserted in place.

I cut a simple base and glued it onto the feet to hold it all in place.

Stand attached.

This was a fun and easy project to build. There are may opportunities for different materials as well as other designs to be used.